Vol. 1 Ch. 3 Ep. 36: Notebook

D-Did that do anything?

I think so! She stopped moving!

That strange lightning mass is also disappearing!

Did we win? Is Hoshino gonna go back to normal?

Yeah! Maybe if...

She will not. It's impossible.

I-Impossible?

Yes, impossible. She is beyond our reach. Bringing her back would be akin to resurrecting the dead. She has been reversed by Terror.

Just as I was.

B-But, then...does that mean...you came here to...?

Yes. My purpose here is to save each of you.

I must destroy Hoshino's halo.

What?!

If I do not, that...thing inside Hoshino will fully manifest. This world will be eradicated.

But...Hoshino...

...wants this as well. This is how it came to pass in my world.

The events of this world may have deviated from mine, but it is an incontrovertible fact that this ending is Sunaookami Shiroko's fate.

But you never wanted to do it, even in your world.

...

"Help us, Shiroko. Isn't there any way?"

A way...

A way, a way... I've suffered failure after failure, time and time again, searching for that elusive "way"...

Wait. Something is different.

On Hoshino's chest...

I have never experienced this kind of deviation... Something is there, but...without tangible form... It has yet to manifest.

That's...

Oh... That's...

Doesn't it...kind of look like a notebook?

Ah!

"It's...Yume's notebook."

I...

Yume's notebook... Where...

...Yume...

"Hoshino is still searching the Abydos desert."

"She's still searching for Yume's notebook."

...

...Hoshino.

She must be...

Yes. The Terror hasn't completely gripped Hoshino, not yet.

Barely, just barely...that notebook is halting the manifestation.

...

!!

Sh-She's moving again...!

...Situation analyzed.

Plana...?

Solution established.

I've identified a possible method to contact Hoshino before the complete reversal of her Mystic.

H-How?!

Overclocking. Utilizing the Shittim Chest's power, we will create a pseudo-Throne of Naram-Sin.

H-Huh? The Shittim Chest doesn't have that kind of power! We can't do it without the Ark!

...I have completed my analysis of the Underground Dweller's abilities.

A chaotic realm where dimensions, time, existence, and non-existence are mixed together, without ever settling... If we were to construct something similar...

It would be brief, but we could establish a point of contact with Hoshino.

B-But...that's too dangerous...

Yes. It is. That is why I will return 99% of computational resources to you.

I will then enter a state of disconnected consciousness.

D-Disconnected consciousness?

Yes. That near-death state will allow me to dive into the depths of the Shittim Chest and construct a virtual chaotic realm.

B-But...Plana...if you don't make it back...

I am aware. This aspect must be kept secret from Sensei.

Although...

Arona... Before we begin, I have a request.

Yes, Plana? Whatever you want!

Hold...my hand...

Hold...your hand?

Yes. I am a bit...afraid.

Yes! Yes! Forever! I'll hold your hand, forever and forever! I won't let go!

Thank you. Arona...

Listen to Arona's explanation.

Relay the details to everyone else.

Sensei...has to somehow make physical contact with Hoshino...

Yeah. Specifically, Sensei's Shittim Chest needs to make contact with that notebook...

U-Uh... We're gonna have to get really close to make that happen.

We'll need to incapacitate Hoshino, for there to be any hope of this working.

...Understood. Stop Hoshino, then establish connection with the notebook. Got it.

I'll be under your command as well, Sensei.

But with just us...how...?

...I'll help.

"Hina!! Are you okay?! In your condition..."

Just a few scratches. I know what's at stake, and there's no time to waste. Let's go.

...

Another Sunaookami Shiroko. The one Sensei assisted last time? Do you have a problem?

...No.

If we're going to move, we need to move now! The lightning is growing again!

Yeah. It's now or never. Let's go.

Now!

...!! Ugh!

H-Hurry! It's so hot!!

Sensei! I can mitigate the heat, so please hurry!

Something's happening with the Fury of Set! We're out of time!

Place your hand on Hoshino.

Connection established. But what do you intend to say, Sensei...?

"Being an adult doesn't mean I understand death or pain!"

"It hurts the same, no matter how old you are!"

"That's why it has to be you guys!"

Yes... Only the Foreclosure Task Force can do this.

"Which means you too!"

Yeah. You're a part of Abydos. Please help us save Hoshino.

As a member of the Masked Swimsuit Gang.

Don't encourage her! You're being a bad influence on Shiroko!

...Well, I guess you two are the same person.

Hurry!!

"Reach out to her!"

"Tell Hoshino everything you need to say!"